Cancer screening guidelines

Get annual checkups that include discussions of tobacco use, sun exposure, diet and nutrition, disease risk factors, sexual practices and any exposure to dangerous substances at work or at home. Talk to your health-care provider about necessary screenings and to determine if you’re at high risk of developing certain kinds of cancer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adolescents who are 11 or 12 years old get two shots of the HPV vaccine six to 12 months apart to protect against HPV (human papillomavirus), which can cause certain cancers and other diseases.